Straight bar knitting machine and a method of operating same



Jan. 19, 1954 F. LAMBACH 2 1 STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE AND A METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed Feb. 5, 1948 v r l3 Sheets-Sheet l MGR flax Q 5 9851. /6 no 252 254 29a 26?! 38 INVENTOR gr E9 FRITZ LHMBHCIH BY Q1 Q0 W2 ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1954 LAMBAH 2,666,311

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE AND A METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed Feb. 5, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 /6'Q {06 a 56a 596 56b INVENTOR FR'ITZ LHMBHCH 56m"- F. LAMBACH Jan. 19, 1954 STRAIGHT BAR KNITTINGMACHINE AND A METHOD OF OPERATING SAME l5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 5, 1948 INVENTOR FRITZ LHMBHCH ATTO R N EY Jan. 19, 1954 FQ L MBACH 1 2,666,311

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE AND A METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed'Feb. 5, 1948 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 556 25? 546 450 #0 F- 5 555 554 556 i I 500 we o o I 524 296 512 Cy o O 64 57 IL 2801., 1? Il 5/0 294 256 5/4 "'11 1!? In 1511 '51 E: ill 422 j 410 92 I INVENTOR FRITZ LHMBHCH ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1954 F. LAMBACH 2,666,311

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE AND A METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed Feb. 3, 1948 l5 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Fw T2 1 14/754677 ATTORNEY F. LAMBACH Jan. 19, 1954 STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE AND A METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed Feb. 5. 1948 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 vmm mmm

INVENTOR FRITZ LHMBHCH ATTORNEY Rm vwm F. LAMBACH Jan. 19, 1954 STRAIGHT BAR- KNITTING MACHINE AND A METHOD OF OPERATING SAME l3 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Feb. 3, 1948 INVENTOR FRITZ LHMBHCH BY ATTORNEY F. LAMBACH 2,666,311 STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE AND A METHOD OF OPERATING SAME l3 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR f7 72" 14/7540/ BY ,JZ'

ATTORNEY N @v 9% wwm mm. mm 54 I wmm Dav Q6. mm b r @w i L i .33 R, nmw It- \m H l I? M T m m l EN SEW M N v wRw E QM Q x E3 v mhn W? MN MW uh ||1|1| I {H11}. 1 w H NMN .WWWH Svw wwn QR Jan. 19, 1954 Filed Feb. 3, 1948 F. LAMBACH Jan. 19, 1954 STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE AND A METHOD OF OPERATING SAME l5 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Feb. 3, 1948 wnn g INVENTOR 2 f k/rz [Ana/4c BYWZ ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1954 F. LAMBACH 2,666,311

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE AND A METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed Feb. 3, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet ll INVENTOR ATTORNEY FRITZ LHMBHCH Jan. 19, 1954 F. LAMBACH 2,666,311

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE AND A METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed Feb. 3, 1948 1s Sheets-Sheet 12 2 INVENTOR Fe/rz [4145467/ BY J94 Z ATTORNEY F. LAMBACH Jan. 19, 1954 STRAIGHT B AR KNITTING MACHINE AND A METHOD OF OPERATING SAME 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed Feb. 5, 1948 m T N E v m FRITZ LHMBHCH W ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 19, 954

OFFICE.

v Fritz 'iLambach Tenafly,

N. J l, assignorL to Robert I Iteiner, 'Iiic.', Weehawk'en'; N. J. I Applicatib lFebrn'ary 3, 1948, Serial'No.6,063'

38Claims. (cries-589i) This .inventiomrelates to textile machines, I and more particularly; to-straight. bar knitting-ma:-

chines; I V

An objector the present: invention is to provide a straight bar knitting machine with a mechanism; by meansiof which l'oop transfer means. for transferring loops fromv knitting needle to knitting. needle; ofuthe knitting machine, such as, a-picot ban or; lacje=fingers, may be movediautomaticallyj fromxa position-out. of cooperative relation to needles of the 'kn'itting machine into a position in cooperativerelationto'needles of the knitting machine.and-:viceversa;

A. further obj ectx offthe. present invention is to improveirupona the: construction Ofstraight bar knitting: machines; asznow ordinarily made;

Further objects and advantages ofthe: present invention .will be apparent from the followin disclosure ofzvan embodimentthereoi. In: the accompanying drawingsg,

Fig; 1 "is airagmentary front 1 elevational I view of a two-section:straight-bar knitting; machine, some parts being broken away, some parts being omitted for a better'illustration of. theinvention;

Fig; 2 isa fragmentaryiside:elevational viewseen, in the, direction? of the arrows 2i of Fig.v 1, some parts beingmmitted-and some parts being broken away for. at hettenillustration of the invention,. V

Fig; v3. isa fragmentarysectional viewtaken: along line 33.of Eig;-2; I a

Fig. 4'. is: a fragmentaryxsectional. View: taken along line,.4-4 ?of?F.i

Fig. 5 isasectionalview taken-along line 5-5; of; Fig. 1. somepiarts:being:brokenaway,

Fig.,6"is* azsectional view taken along. line 6-6:

ofFig. 1; ,j I v V Fig. '7' is a SQQti'QnakVieW- taken alongline 1 of Fig. 6, i v n Fig. 8 is a'%. fragmentary sectional view taken; n 1 f a 6 Fig. Qis asectionaLview taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 3, 7 Y 7 Fig; 10 isvra frontf'elevational view'ofthe 'ac tuating'driveofthenarrowing'machine} Fi'gs'. llandillA when placede'ndto endfrom left to I right" in the ord'erlgiven" make up a'fro'nt elevation'al' view. of a; p ot bar'an'd a portion ofits actuating mechanism;

Fig. 12*is, a sectional?viewtaken'online125m of Fig; 11A, v I

Fig. 13, is a s ectionaliview' taken on" line 1 $43 orFiarz; ".F is a ir ir sava aiew im to:

. 2 picot bar and; its actuating mechanism are in a different position, V

Fig. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the ratchet wheel mechanism forming apart of the actuating mechanism of the picot bar,

Fig. 16 is a scctionalview similar to that shown inFig. 6; "wherein,.however, the selecting mechanism" of, the picot bar actuating mechanism is in a different position, and; V 7

Figs. 1-7-19 are fragmentary views illustrating various positions of theelements of the actuating mechanism of the picot bar.

The drawings illustrateonly those parts of a straight bar ,knittingmachine, which are necessary'for the understanding of the invention;

Referring? now to Figs. 1, 2, and 5, generally indicates the frame of a two-section straight bar knitting machine. A motor 32: mounted on a bracket. carried'by theframe' 30 of the knittiI ig. machine isconnected through a train of gears 36 withv the main cam shaft, 38' rotatably' arranged in suitable'bearings ofi the'-frame 0f the machine.v

40 generally 'indicates apattern'chain carrying a' seriesof buttons 5'42 forthe control'of certain mechanisms of the: knitting machine. Duringthe operation of the machine, thepattern chain is intermittently-advanced in a mannerknown perse by. any'suitable' mechanism. For example, a patterncha'in cam-44 (see Figs. 1 and 5 keyed to the main cam shaft actuates a spring-loaded double armed lever 46-which, in turn, actuates a double-armed'leveri 48 carrying a pawl-50 arranged'for engagement-"with teeth of a ratchet whe'el52 connectedto a rotatable drum 5:!- engaged withthe pattern chain 40,.- i

Each row of. buttons: 42 mountedxonn the mountedi on ashaft- 58(see Figs. 1, 2, '3,.,an d

5'); Each 'j ackis" connectedthrough wires; le-

vers andtro'ds with" aic'ontr'olling mechanism of; theknitting' machine? The drawings illustrate onlytlie, connections of the jacks 56c,.53e ;and

connected with the jack throughwires; levers and7orrods2 V V For example," as best shown in :Figs5 1, ,2 and:3; th'e WifBO leadinga'fi'omathe/jack 560' is: slide pattern chain 40iinapredetermined'manner is-arrangedfor cooperation-with a. swingable spring- A second-set collar "I2 is secured to the free end of the wirefill; so as to serve as an'abutment for the spring-loaded lower end of the lever 62,, The lever -62 has a hook-like projection I4, which ay be engaged by a swingableil ookil lsfii199 ing element I6 in a manner to be describedfherer, inafter. When the hook-like locking element 16 and the hook-like projectionHofthefiever 9 I2 are disengaged from each other as s'h'own in full lines in Fig. 3, a rocking or theiiaickxfificj'by;

a button 42 of the pattern chain 40 from its 4 the active position with its upward extension II4 below the abutment H6 of the arm II2. As soon as the jack 56c controlled by the pattern chain 40 causes a return of the controlling element 84 into the inactive position shown in Fig. 4, the arm II2 of the follower I02 will again rock freely within the blocl; 90 held in its inactivehorizontal "position by l the spring, 98, without causing a; rocking of said blockklll.

. The lower end of a'forward-racking connecting rod I I8 is pivotally connected with an extension; of; the wall;llliivqf .the block 90 at I20. The

ppercjendiof" aid forward-racking connecting normal position into the. position showni'ri Fig;

3 will cause a swinging movement of the lever into the full-line position of said Figidthrbugh the me'dium'of the wire lilljset collan'lfl and spring 68. If; howeven ina 'rhanner to be describedhereinafter; the hook-like-locking ele ment Hi-and liook-like'projection T4 are'engagedwith each-'other as shown inda'sh-anddot lines in Fig. 3, a rocking of the jack 560 by a button 42 of the pattern chain 40 will merely cause'a sliding movement of'the wire 60 in the bore of the lever 62 against the action of the spring 68. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the other "end ofthe rod'64'is rigidly connected with the lower end 'ofa lever 18, the'upper endof which is connected by -a wire 80 (see Figs. 2 and 4) with one arm 82 ofa controlling element 84 swingably mounted on a pivot 86 projecting upwardly from the base 88 of ablock 99 being substantially of U-shaped' cross-section. Said block 90 s'wingably'mounted on a shaft 92 carries an adl'u table'stop' screw 94 capable. of cooperation with a shaft S'B-of'the'machine. A spring '98' stretchedbetween 'a downward extension IBO of said'bl'ci'ck 90*and a stationary point of the machine tends to urge said stop screw" {94' against said "shaft 96, whereby the block 90 is held in a substantially horizontal position." Furthermore, a double-armed springloaded follower I02 carrying .a roller I04.c0oper'atingfwith a carrier-narrowing-spindle-cam' lllfi keye'dto the' rnain cam shaft 38 is swingably mounted on the'shaft 92' between the side walls 2 I08 and H0 of the U-ShfiIJGIi'fblOCk" 90. During th'eoperation 'of the'm'achin'e, the arm II2 of the follower 'IIJZ'm'ay'freely' rock within the U-shaped block 90, held in its position bythe spring 98;in accordancewith the shapeof the carrier narrowing spindle cam,-' I06 engaged with the roller I04r-of"the follower' I02; as long as the controlling element 84 iscin the inactive position shown in Fig. 4." Assoon as, however-{upon anactua'tion of the jack 56c anda'rocking movement of the 'levertz; said con.- trolling element 84 is swung'about-its pivot 86 into such a positionjthat its upward'extension II4- (see"Fi'gs. 2'and 4)' is below anabutment H6 arranged on the'arm .II2". of the follower I02; the next downward rockingofsthearm- II2- of the follower I02 caused by a riseonthe carrier narrowing spindle-cam: I06; causes a, swingingof the block:90'against the action ofthe spring: 98 in" ,counter clockwise direction; Now the block 90 follows the reciprocating rocking movements of, the arm :I I'2x of-ithe-:followemIOZ; as long as the controlling element-84 remains in red I I8 is pi tally connected at I22 with a threearmed;lever lflswingably but axially immovably mounted on"a carrier spindle I26 rotatably arranged .mz-the frame of the machine. The lever I 24.. carries a pawl I28 arranged for engagement withtee'th of a ratchet wheel I36 keyed to the carrier spindle I26 for an intermittent controlled forward'qacking of the carrier spindle nuts' (not shown in 'the drawings) 7. Furthermore, onecend of a connecting rod H2 is pivotally connected to the three'Qarmed lever I24 at I34, the other'end of said connecting rod I32 is pivoted at I 36.to a lever I38 swingably but axially immovably mounted ona'narrowing spindle I40 journalled'in suitable bearingsof the frame-of the machine. Said lever I38 carries a pawl I42 arranged for engagement with teeth'of a ratchet wheel I44 keyed tothe narrowing spindle I4llso as to cause a con trolled intermittent forward-racking or movement towards eachbther ofnarrowing spindle nutS' MEL, "148R engaged with a left-hand threaded portion and right-hand threaded portion respectively bfjthe narrowingl spindle'lfi (see Figs; l and5) i V r Furth'ermore,"ase'stshown in Figs. Z'and 4, the lowerend'of 'a b'ack-racking connecting rod I48 is pivoted to an extension of thewall III] of the block fiatlwa 'Theupp'er end of said backra k rig"connecting"rodfla is pivoted at I52 to a thre'earmed :lever.I54 swingably but axially immo'va'hly mountedi' on" the carrier spindle I26. saidrockablelever I54' carried'a pawl 55B arranged for engagement with'teeth of a ratchet wheel lit tseeFig )-so"asto"cause a controlled intermittent back-l ackin'gof the carrier spindle nuts. One end of a connecting rod I60 (see'Fig. 2')':is" pivota1ly"connectedto .an'arm of said rockable lever I54 at I 52. The "otherendo'f said'com nesting rod I-S'II is' pivoted'at 'I 64' to'a three-armed lever IIiIi swingably but I axially-- immovablymounted on the r'iai'rowing'-"spindle I40. Said rockable leverj I6 t 'carries a pawl I68 arranged for engagement with" teeth'-of al-ratchet wheel I'IG see Fig. 1) keyed to the narrowing spindle I4llso' as -to cause a controned 'intermittent back-racking or movement away from each otherof the nermwmgspfiialeenta lterrace 'IABR? 1 hw erei e 9f. lihe a' i' 2 l 'fi Fig. 2) causing-the forward' ra'cling and the eq zra kine f he azrie fi inqle wa enga .1 1 15"contr lled-brass: lecting. control disc I! Lrotatably. arranged on the carrie spindle. 126.. and connected .th 9 ish t e ,ll4to' a.springi-.,loaded. cam follower I76 (Fig. 2) .sw1n g'ably. mounted on a Shaft cl 'lfi said g eam {follower .IIIE cooperates with a controlling cam I80 of'a'series-oflcom n ieamse eveea P F P fi 1.8mm Figs. 1 and 5) automatically actuated at intervals by ecefimt esh f ciueii wds r F s r eanaem ne s ers e e ine awg I42 I 6 8'(see Fig. 2) iscontrolled by a selecting control-"disc" I84 marshy haunted on "the -net rd; l indl Min n n it dL h h; the mediumiof a Bowden WireIBt toanother springloaded cam follower associated with another controlling cam keyed to theautomatically-actuated contr0lshaft'IB2.

For a more detailed description of the carrier spindle'drive and narrowing spindle drive, which may be of any suitable construction, reference is had to my copending U. S: patent application Serial No. 743,938 filed on- April 25, 1947, now Patent No. 2,574,487; November 13, 1951, for a Straight Bar Knitting Machine.

The carrier spindle nuts control the strokes of reciprocable yarn'carriers I-88 'carried reciprocable carrier rods I90 in: any suitable mannerQ As best shown in Fig. 2, the pattern chain control jack 561:. at the left-hand end otthe row of jacks is connected bya wire I92 with the lower end-of a lever I 94, the upper endof which is secured to one end of a rod I 06 journalled in suitable bearings of the frame of the machine. The other end of said rod I96 is connected with the lower end of a, lever I98, the upper end of which is pivotallyconnected with one end of a wire 200 (see'Figs; 1 and 4). The other end of said. wire 200 is pivoted to an arm of a double-armed controlling element 202swingably mounted at 204 on agblock 206. Said block 206 being substantiallyof U-shaped= cross-section is swingably mounted on the'shaft 92 and carries an adjustable stop screw 208c'apa'ble of cooperation with the shaft 96 of the machine; A spring 2I0 (see Fi 2) stretched between a downward extension 2I2 of said block 206 anda stationary point of themachine tends to urge said stopscrew 208 (Fig. 4) against said shaft 96, whereby the'block 206 is held in a substantially horizontal position. Furthermore, a double-armed spring-loaded follower 214 carrying a roller 2 I6 cooperating with a control shaft cam 2I8-keyed to the main cam shaft 38 is swingably mounted on the shaft 92 between the side walls of the 'U-shaped block 206. During the operation of the machine, the arm-220 of the follower 2I4 may freely rock within the U-s'haped block 206 as long as the controlling ele-' ment 202 is in an inactive position, wherein its left-hand end- (as viewed in Fig. 4) is out of the .path of the arm 220. As soon as, however, said thepatte-rn chain controlled; jack- 5612. causes areturn'of the controlling} element 202 into its inactive position, the cam follower 2'I4'W ill again freely rock without; anactuation of the block206 held in its substantially horizontal position by means of the spri ng2l 0L- As bestshown in Figs. 2 and 4, one end of a connecting rod 222' is pivoted at 224 to the downward extension'2'l2of theblock'206: Theother end ofrsaidconnectin'g rod 222- is pivoted at 2'26to a, lever 22B ro'ckablymc'unted on the control'shaft 182; Said lever 228 carries a pawl 230 arranged for'engagement with teeth of a ratchet wheel 2-32 keyed'to the rotatable control shaft I82: Apparently, each time the" blo'ck206-isrockedby the fp 'wer 1 4 m? 8? emento 't e"s z fimllie element 202 intoits active position-in responseto the control by a button on the pattern chain, the ratchet wheel 2 32 and the easements 1 I 82 connected therewith are advanced one'step by the pawl 230.] Such a step-fby stepmovementol; the control shaft I82 causesa step-by-step movement of the controllingcams mounted on the control shaft I82, such asthe controlling cam I and others to-be mentioned hereinafter; for the control of a mechanismor mechanisms of the knit ting machine.

Referring nowto Figs. 1, 5 and 1 0; two narrowing'machine cams 234 are-keyed" to the main cam shaft 38. In a manner'knownper se, each nar rowingmachine carn 234 iscomposed of a round. disc 236, and anelem-ent 2 38-bei'ng-in the shape of a cam. During the normal knitting operations of'the knitting "machine,- rollers 240- carried by spring-loaded cam followers 242 swingably mounted on the shaft SG are in engagement with the round discs 236-,- so that, during the normal knitting operations no movement is imparted to said cam followers 242. However, at certain predetermined intervals, for example during the performance of a narrowing operation, the main cam shaft 30 is shifted to the right by an automatic shifting mechanism known per se, and not shown in the drawings, whereby the rollers 240 are brought into engagement with the cams 230 so that the cam followers :242 are rocked about the shaft 244 in accordance" with the shape of the cams 238. The lower end of a connecting rod 246 is pivoted at 248 to each of-saidcam'followers 242. As best showrr'in- Figs. 5 and 10, the upper end of each connectingrodudis swin ably connected with a narrowing machine tube 250 forming a part of the so-called narrowing machine generally indicated by 25:25 Said narrowing machine 252 comprises two arms 25:! secured to a narrowingmachineshaft 258 (see Figs. 5, 6,- 8, '10 and; 16) by means of' set'screws 258. The narrowing machine's'ha'ft256; is journalled in suitable bearings Offbh frame of the machine. As best shown in Fig. 1-0;one'end of a plate-like member 260 is adjustably secured to each arm 254 of the narrowing machine- 252; the other end of each member 260 is secured to the'narrowing machine tube 250'by a set screw 262. Thus, when the camfollowers 242 are rockedby the cams 238 about the shaft'2 44; the narrowing machine arms 254 as well as the narrowing machine tube 250 are lowered and'l'iftedcausing at the same time a corresponding rotationof' the-narrowing machine shaft 255 in clockwise and counter-clockwise direction.

As best shown in Figs. 1,; 5; 6, and 10, six brackets 264 are rigidly securedto the narrowing machine tube 250,"-fcr example by set'screws 256-. The outer brackets' at the left-hand end and right-hand endof the machine are provided with two recesses 268 and 2705. The four-inner brackets 265 (see Figs'l, 6,10, 11, 11A and 12); are provided with three recesses 268, 210 and 212 and a bearing 213. An upper rail 214 is slidably engaged with the recesses 268Yof the series of brackets 264. A lower rail 21 $fs1 idably engaged with the recesses 270- of the series of brackets 264. An abutting bar 2' I'B.is immovablyconnected with the recesses 212 of the-inner'lorackets 264-; In each section of the machineya'right-hand narrowing finger 280R is rigidly connected with thereciprocable upper rail-"2]4*and aleft-handnarrowing finger 280L is r ig idly cohne with 'the 1owe1' reciprocable rail 2 1'6 by 'scrfjivs." Furthermore, as best'shown'in'fi I ;-'a3n abutm'ent" 2 -rigl-idly-seured -to the rig lit hand ofthe lJPP i 'TOiP 2L QQL eas m t w hfi Q W LWWQ est gs qnzfiiz tp .16 l'ightfhend arro i s n ndle nut..-!4:6 t aded Q 1. the a g s ind e 14 and guided. a s d nei i c ed win rame'oft achine and engaged with I ces Zfifili (Fi 1 and of the narrowing spindle nnt l 45R. In a Similar ed ab me 8. equredpto the lower reciprocable rail 216 is held by means ota Dring (not. shown) i i ogseieneasem nt w th a downward extension 284; of the left hand narrowing spindle nut [Mgthreaded on the narrowing spindle I50 and guidedby the guiding rod 286 e a with Iw SeZiiBL .o the a o in sp e t eesir .9w s.- piad e...mit MEL and HER in their outermost plositionand the narmwing fi .z3 .b. i a sag resb ndn position uts de the k i t fie s 9 es hew: ticn containing a series of needles 1292 and a series of sinkers 23%. Apparently, above described forward-racking of the narrowingspindle nuts M6 or movement thereof towards each-other caused by an actuation of the narrowing spindle drive results in a movement of the narrowing fingers 28011 and 236R secured to the rails 27% and 214 towards each other into'the knitting field. On the other hand a back-racking or the narrowing spindle nuts MEL, 146R or movement thereof away from each other-from an inner position into their outermost position results in a movement of the narrowing fingers ZBGL, 286R from a position within the knitting field into the position outside theknitting field. v v f Referring no Els at .i2k and 16-19, a rod 296 is rotatably and axially movably arranged in the bearings 273 of the inner bracket-s 264 secured to the narrowingnrachine tube 259. In each section of the machineyapicot bar 293 is rigidly securedto said rodl2 96 byi w or the like. Duringfthenormalknitting operations of the machine, said picotbar 298- i in the upward position shown inFi'gs. 1, 5, 6, 11, 11A, 12, and 16, wherein 'its picot points 380 are out of cooperative relation to the needles 2% 1 of the machine. Apparently; the picot bars 298 secured to the rod 296 journalled in bearings of the brackets 2 5 i secured tothe narrowinglmachine tube 250 participate in the downward ancl'upward movements of the narrowing machine causediby above described narrowing-machine actuating mechanism. However as long as the picot points 39%) are in the upward positionout of cooperative relation to the needles 292 as show nffor example, in Fig. 1', such a'downward and upward movement of the narrowing machine 252 will not cause an operation bythe picot points. a J

According 'to the' invention, the picotbars -298 with their picot points 300 may be swung automatically at predetermined intervals: from the upward position out or cooperative relationto the needles'of the machine'assh'own, fo'r example, in Figs. 1 and 16' into a downward'position in cooperative.relationto the needles of the machine a's showrnfo'r example; in Fig. l'l'and may be automatically returned from said downward position into saidupward position'by means "of "the following mechanism{ 7 As bestshown in Fig. 5,'a control cam 302 keyed to the above described controlshaft I82 coopcrates with a spring- -loaded-cam iollower ii-fld winsablv un q piiil sha 'tq argio ai ca pll'ower illiyisln rotal y n ect d-1s 39 w h the lower. sea o shr w-row;

ignnesieodz zwhiqhisp oi datHM j r j cti 3| 2 of; a camrning element 3'! 4 swingably but aggrally -rmmovably mounted on the narrowing machine-shait-ZEG;(see Figs. 5, 6,8, 9, and-16). 'ljhccammingyelement 3l4 has a path 3l6 slidably engaged wth a roller 318 carried by an arm 320 of a double-armed lever 3Z2 swingably but axially irnrnovably. mounted on a stud 324 rigidly secured to a bracket 326 which, in turn, is rigidly connectedwith the narrowing machine shaft 256, so asto participate in the rocking movements of the latter. The upwardly extending arm 328 or jjdriyerf oi the double-armed lever 322 is provided with a bore 330 (see Figs. 6; and 16)v slidably engagedwith arod 332. A set collar 334 secured to the rod 332 is 'arranged for abutting cooperation with theupper'end of the arm 328. Furthermore, a collar 336 also arranged for abutting cooperationwith 'saidupper end of the. arm 328 is; slidably'mounted on said rod'332. A spring'338 is interposed between said movable collar 336 and a set collar 3 12 secured to the rod 332. Therefore; it the arm 328 'is moved in counter-clockwise direction irom the position shown in Fig. 6 into-the position shown in Fig. 16, the rod 332 will b'eishifted to the left, if there is no obstacle preventing the rod 332 from movement. If, however, there -is an obstacle; a movement of the arm 323 in .counter-clock-wise direction will merely cause a compression of the spring 338. On the other hand, a movement of the arm 328 in clock-wise direction from the position shown in Fig. 16 into the position shown in Fig. 6 will cause a displacementpf therod 332 to the right. The right-hand end of the rod-332 is pivotedat 342 to an arm 33 eta bell-cranlgjever 3&6 swingably but axially immovably mounted on a stud 34B carried by'a bracket fio secured to the narrowing machine tube; 25;? by a screw 352 (see Figs. 6, 11A, 12, 14, lfiand 19). a p i -Thearmttfil of the rockable bell-crank lever 346 is pivotally connected at .356 with one end ofa rod 358, the other end of which is pivotally connected at 3% with a projection 362 of a selecting control disc or conditioning means 384 swingably mounted on the rod 295 carrying the picot bars 233. As best shown in Figs. 15-19, said selecting control dischas two circular elevated portionsfififi 3=iii and two recesses 310, 372, as well asa safety abutment 313 projecting from therecessed portion of the control disc. The elevated'portion 36% and recessed portion 378 cooperate with a spring-loaded lifting pawl 3M mountedon an arm ti's of an actuating element 318 swingably 'arranged on the rod 296 carrying the picot -loars 298. The elevated portion 368 and recessed portion 312 of the control disc 36 i cooperate with a spring-loaded lowering pawl 38% arranged on an arm 382 of said rockable actuating ,element sliit The lifting pawl 374, in turn,

is'arranged for-cooperation with teeth of a lifting'ratchet wheel 384 keyed to said rod 2% carrying the picotbars 298; said lowering'pawl 388 is arranged for cooperation with teeth of a lowering ratchet wheel 385 likewise keyed to said rod 295.- 1When the selectingcontrol disc or conditioning means 354 is in such a position, that the lifting pawl 37 is in engagement with the elevated-portion 3% thereof as shown, for example, in Figs. 16 and '17,. the lifting-pawl 314 is held. inan inactive position out of engagement with the teeth of the lifting-ratchet wheel 384; on the other-handwhen the selecting control disc or conditioning means 364 is in such a position,

' i ii '5-ilie t ei ied-" erihe--3 8 i m e ag e liftin'g ratchet Wheel 3871 has "its series-of teeth tiny at a Zportion or its :circu'mferehce; likewise, the lowering ratchet wh'eelflti 'h'as its series jof teeth only'at a:portion-of its' circuinference. The safety "abutment 3W3 f the select-mgicontrol disc may cooperatefwith e 'safetyilodlingshbfldn 388 arranged on the reciprocable'iowehrail '2 'm c'arry ing: the narrowin fingers 28011. c its Pb'eSt "shown in Figs. 1'1, 11a, 1 2;thesafetysleclingislioulder ?'388 extends along a c'ertain length ioffthenlower rail 2''! 6'. when the narrowing fingers 2801:;28012. are out of the knitting field asl 's'howh -i-nFFi'gs. 1', '11, -1"ltt,.and 12, the right-hand end 'ofthesafet-y locking shoulder'388 risxoutcofithe Fpath of .the safety abutme'ntx313 of theS-selectingscontrol idisc 364 (see Fig..'12') sojth'at the selecting. control *disc 364 maybe "freely jrocke'd. If,;however,-the rai'ls 274 and "216 carrying the jnarrowing fingers 28GB. and "2307b are displaced bygthe harrowing s-pindle nuts 146R and MEL, so that the narrowing fingers are in the knitting-field and .the slower rail 216 provided; with the;:'safety isho1ilder 388 is :shifted to the right as viewed in Fi'gs." 1', 11-, "and 1-2, the shoulder '388 will be in the path of the Pabutment -3'l3 of v the selecting 1 control :disc 364, so that the latter is lqcked and cannot-{be rocked.

:best shown in :Fig. 9 the :path, 3316 of the cammingyelemen't 3 [-4 is composed of a Efirst cir- 'cular section 3-90, haying the center Q of the narrowing machine shaft Z Bfias its center; -a cammin'g section *392 -and a second *circular section 394 likewise'having the "center Q of thenarrowing machine shaft 256,;as itsgcenten; Therefore, when the camming; element 314 i either in 1 the :po s o n f ssgfil n 9 Qt nr e u iiQ shown F '5. a the na r wing m i 2 er rms;itsiW ng a l tin m v m t ar n the qenter the' r w ne m c i ea 2 .52 ee io m ngna row ns. o ee n -b t enarr wn rfin ers w ow rin a l i ov m sre ultiw new of th b a ke 3 and. s ud-13 4,, a yin the le r; e 2 a o d t e nt r; 0 c the e trw gr a hiee h ft, am? r era lw rr dbi" t e le erv .322 will merely slide e onstee rcu arath e t on 399 ith t ca sin QMW QZ Q-YF Q Jt be w e th l e 3 and; the bracket .3 51 I stee W rds s th dorme s endnnwe dum y 3 QS,Q the errew n machine? or t pe forfnance of narrowin epperations lnotcause a di a nt p wjt s heme .354 connected to said 'lever, 322, through the medium shown in iajrnte position shown it t e.r c eet nebqiitrt hi J .v flexetee p s en sh n Il :1 mm the :sition shownin Fig. 6.

Referring now to Fi s. "1:3 "and 5;I, the patt rii-'chain contrened jack 56c is rigidly eon;- n'ected 'wi'tha wire39'6 passing through a Home at its 'upper'end. The right-hand endo'f said wire '396 (as viewed in Fig. 1-) #is 1: )iy otall y connected with the'l'ower end of "a lever 398, the upper "end of which is connected to one end of a ro'd'4'00 :'(s'eeFigs. 1, 5 andfi) "journal1edinsuitab1e bear ings of the frame of the machine. The other end'of said rockable rod 490 is rigidly connected with the 1ow'er end Of an arm "492, the u DDr e Ild of which is "connected to "a wire 404, which, in turn, connected to one arm of a controlling element 465 swingably mounted on a pintu's (Fig. '7) Zprojeeting from the base ofa springloaded block 411] iswingably 'rnour'ited on the shaft 92. A spring loaded follower 4 l2 'swin'gably mounted on the shaft '92 and actuated 'bya piot b'ar cam 4 may cause rocking movements of said block 4| 0 when the pattern chain control"- ling element "406' is in such a position, that it is in the :path ofthe arm 4|B of'the cain fon wern 2. On the other hand, when said controlling elementi-M-B is in the fposition shown in Fig. '7, the .cam follower '4l'2 will freely rock within the H -shaped block 410 without causing "an actii ation thereof (thecontrol and operation of the block '4") :is the same as described above in connection with the blocks '90 and'2 06). As best shown in Figs. 5-7, th'e' projecting end of an arm 8 rigidly connected with "the block 410 is pivotally connected at 420 with the lower end ofa rod 422, the upper end of which is-pivo't ally connected at "424 ('se'eFig's. '8 and 16) to a projection 426 of a cammi'ng element Mast/ingably and axially immovably mounted on the narrowing machine shaft 256. The 'c'ain'i'riih'g element 428 is-of *the same design as abovede scribed camming -element 314 and its path 430 is likewise composed of twocircular sections and a eentral 'camming section. The path 436 of the camming element 428 is slidably "engaged with a roller 43,2 ca1rried by the arm 4'34 of a doublearmed lever 436 swinga'bl'y mounted "on the stud 3 24 carriedby the bracket szsrigidlyeonneeteu with; thenarrowing machine "shaft 256, The upper end of an arm "or driver 43?! of the doll hie-armed lever 43B is provided with a borereceiving one end portion-of a rod 440. 'Sa'id collars 442 -and 444 (see Fig. 16) secured to said'rod 440 are in abuttin engagement with the ubpei'ei'id of the arm 43 ,950 that "a rocking m'ovem r'1t of the "lever. 436 results in a positive displacement of the rod 440. The other end ofsaid'-rod"440 is pivotally connected-at .448 with an arm 448 of 1a bell-crank lever 450 s'tsiingably' mounted "on "the stud 348 carried -by the "bracket 350' secured to the narrowing machine tube 252. arm '452 bf the be1-1 -crank g'l'ever 354 :is pivotally connected at 454 with one end;of.;a;rod 456, the otherend'of which is pivoted; at 1458- to an arm 3460 of. the actuating element 318 carrying the'pjawls "314, 380. v

; Thus, when the narrowing inachine 252 performs downward and upward imovernentsfbr the performance of narrowing operations by the nar rowing fir-igers, the double armed 1'everr43e will not be moved relatively to the bracket 32!; owing to the circular section of the path 430 of "the carnming element 428; be it in the position hown in Fig, fifor Joe-it jin a ;position corresponding to the position of the ca nming element '3 l4 shown in said ;l. l-Iow ever -if; upon anjactuatio'n of the rockable block 4i E3 in response to a displaceof th con roll nege me t 40s eaused by-t associated controlling cam of the control shaft,

double-armed lever 436 relative to the bracket 326' and, consequently, through the medium of the linkage 448, 459, .456, a corresponding rocking of the actuating element 313 fromthe position shown in Figs. 6 and 16 into the position shown in Fig. 18 and vice versa. Such a reciprocating rockin movement of the actuating element 318, in turn, will cause a step-by-step rotation of the lowering ratchet wheel 386 and the rod 296 carrying the picot bars 298 when the selecting control disc or conditioning means 364 is in such a position, that the lowering pawl 388 may engage teeth of the lowering ratchet wheel 386; apparently, such an intermittent rotation of the rod 296 by the lowering pawl 369 cooperating with the lowering ratchet wheel 386 may bring the picot bars 298 from the position shown in Fig. 6, i. e. the position out of cooperative relation to the needles 292 into the position shown'in Fig. 19, i. e. the position in cooperative relation to the needles 292. On the other hand, if the'selecting control disc or conditioning means 384 is in such a position that the lifting pawl 314 may cooperate with teeth of the liftingratchet wheel 384, such a reciprocating rockin movement of the actuating element 318 will cause .a step-by-step upward swinging of the picot bars 298 from the position shown in Fig. 19 into the position shown in Fig. 6. Obviously, depending on its position, the selecting control disc 364 conditions the actuating drive of the picot bars 298 either for a downward or upward movement of the latter. As best shown in Figs. 11a, 12 and 13, the rod 296 and the picot bars 298 carried by said rod 286 may be held in any position by means of a spring loaded detent 462 swingablymounted on'a pin 464 carried by the bracket 358. Said spring-loaded detent 462 is arranged'for engagement with teeth of an index wheel 468 rigidly secured to the rod 296 by a screw 468. As may be gathered from Figs. 17 19, the picot bars 298 abut in their lowermost position against the abutting rail 218 carried by the brackets 294, so that they are held in their proper position for a proper cooperation of their points 398 with the needles 292. i As best shown in Figs. 11a, "12, 14; 15, 17, 1 and 19, the rockable actuating element 318 is provided with an arm 410 having a threaded bore for receiving the threaded shaft of an adjust able shifting button 412. Furthermore, the threaded shaft of an abutting button 414 is screwed into a threaded bore of the bracket 356. The abutting button '414 is substantially in alignment-withthe pin carrying the" lifting paw1j314 without contacting same when the actuating element 318 isin the positionshown in Figs. 6, 11a. 12, 16 and 17. However, as may be gathered from Figs. 11a and 12, the abutting button 414 projects into the path of the shifting button 412 when the latter is rocked during a rocking of the actuating element 318. As long as the arm 418 of the actuating element 318 is in the position shown in Figs. 6, 11a, 12, 16 and 17, for example, the abutting button 414 does not interfere with the shifting button 412. 'If, however, the arm 410 is moved from the position shown in Figs. 6, 11d, 12, 16 and 17, into the position shown in Figs. 14, 1s, and 19, the abuttin button 41. and shifting button 412 come into enga me w 12 each other, and are in alignment'with each other, when the actuating element 318 reaches its extreme position shown in said Figs. 14, 18, and 19. As may be-gathered from Figs. 11a, 12, and 14, the actuating element 318 is rotatably mounted on the rod 296 between set collars 416 and 488 rigidly secured to said rod 296 by screws 482 and 484 respectively. Furthermore, a spring 418 is interposed between a bracket 264 and the ratchet wheel 384 keyed to the rod 296. Therefore, such a sidewise shifting of the actuating element 318 .from the position shown in Fig. 11a into the posi- '296 in the direction of its longitudinal axis and a similar sidew'ise shifting of the ratchet wheels 384, 386 and selecting control disc 364 against the action of the spring 418. As may be gathered by a comparison of Fig. 11a with Fig. 14, such a sidewise shifting of the! rod 296 causes a sidewise shifting of the points 388 of the picot bars 298 to the leftthrough a distance equal to the distance between adjacent needles 292 of the knitting machine; in other words,'the cooperating abutting button 414 and shifting button 412 cause a displacement of the picot bars 298 one needle to the left. When the rockable actuating element 318 is returned by its actuating drive from the position shown in Figs. 14,18, and 19, into the position shown in Figs. 6, 11a, 12, 16, and 17, the spring 418 causes automatically a return displacement to the rightof the picot bars 298, rod 296, ratchet'wheels 384, 386, selecting control disc 364 and actuatingelement 318 into the position shown in Figs. 11a and 12, wherein the set collar 480 abutsagainst the bracket 358.

Referring now to Figs. land 3, the Ieft- -hand end of the wire 396 connected to the jack 56e passes through a bore 486 ofan arm 488 of a bellcrank lever 498 swing'ably'mounted at 492 on a bracket 494 secured to the shaft I18. Above described hook-like locking element 16 constitutesthe other arm of said bell-crank lever 498. A positive connection of said bell-crank lever 498 with the wire 396 is assured by means of said collars 496 rigidly secured'to the wire 396 for abutting cooperation with the lower end of the arm 488 of the bell-crank lever 490. As long as the jack'56e is in the inactive position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, the bell-crank lever 498 is likewise in an inactive position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, wherein its hook-like locking element 16 is out of thepath of the hook like-projection 14 of the lever 162, 'so thatthe jack 560 may cause a rocking of the lever 62 from the dash and dot line position shown in Fig. 3 into the full-line position shown in Fig. 3 with the result of an actuation of the narrowing spindle for a displacement of the narrowing fingers in the manner described above. Ifjhowev'er; 'the'ijack' 56a is rocked into an active position by meansof a button 42 on the pattern chain 40,". the belt-crank lever 498 is swung, into the dash and dot-line position shown in Fig 3, wherein its hook-like locking element 16 is in looking engagement with the hook-like projection 14 of the lever 62, so that the latter can'- not be swungabout itspivot 64 when byinadvertence a'buttonofjthe pattern chain should cause a rocking ofthejackf 560'. In, other words, the bell-crank lever 4 98 constitutes a safety device preventing an actuatioi'iof the narrowing spindle and displacement of the narrowing fingers when the rockable actuating element 318 is actuated in response to a rocking of the pattern chain control 

